2021 Chalet Pouilly Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru "Vers Cras" Burgundy, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

100% Chardonnay. Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru Vers Cras is a set of three plots planted successively in 1961, 1964, and 1974 on shallow soils with hard and fine limestone (Late Jurassic Period). The area of Vers Cras is 0.32 hectares or approximately 2400 bottles.

The must is directly put in barrels of 400, 500, or 900 liters. The alcoholic and malolactic fermentations are done without any intervention. The duration of this phase varies and could last up to several months. Once the fermentation is complete, each barrel is stirred every week in order to keep the lees in suspension. This traditional Burgundy practice allows the wine to become weightier, more complex, and finally to be protected from oxidation by the natural antioxidants present in the lees. The maturing of Pouilly-Fuissé can last between 9 and 10 months, 16 to 20 months for Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru, depending on the vintage. Every year we introduce around 15% of new French oak barrels to bring just enough of “oak” to the taste of Pouilly-Fuissé.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Founded in 1850, Domaine du Chalet Pouilly is located in Burgundy, France in the heart of the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation. The estate vineyards stretch across the hillsides of eight sun-soaked acres of the Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru, Pouilly-Fuissé, Saint-Véran, and Mâcon-Solutré appellations. The age of vines range from recent plantings in 2011 to century-old vineyard plots in Saint-Véran. These “vieilles vignes” (old vines) and younger plots grow harmoniously in a unique limestone-clay soil and are always farmed with environmental consciousness in mind, making Domaine du Chalet Pouilly an ideal setting for production of the highest quality wines.

Domaine du Chalet Pouilly practices viticulture methods that focus on an utmost respect for terroir. Minimal intervention during the ripening process is often challenging but rewarding at the same time, as it sets off the development of the unique flavors and aromas of these wines.

The estate produces four types of 100% Chardonnay wine: Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru, Pouilly-Fuissé, Saint-Véran, and Mâcon-Solutré.